By Suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a brutal night attack on Yamtake, a recently resettled community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, late Thursday, killing two soldiers and an unknown number of civilians.
According to local and security sources, the insurgents struck around 11:15pm, first targeting a military formation before storming the community itself, unleashing mayhem.
A military officer who spoke anonymously confirmed the loss of personnel. “We are waiting for the reinforcement team to return, but we learnt that two of our men and other civilians were affected,” he said, urging patience as details were still unfolding.
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, called the incident “devastating,” particularly because Yamtake had only recently welcomed returning residents after years of displacement. “It is very sad that two soldiers paid the supreme price. May their souls rest in peace,” he mourned.
Despite the tragedy, troops successfully repelled a follow-up attack on Gwoza town, the senator revealed. “The attackers tried to move into Gwoza after the Yamtake raid, but our troops were brave and stopped them,” he said, commending Brigadier General Nasir Abdullahi and his 26 Task Force Brigade for their swift action.
Ndume praised the ongoing efforts of the CJTF, hunters, and vigilantes, but warned they are ill-equipped to take on well-armed terrorists. He called on the Federal Government to urgently set up an Armed Community Defence system and adopt what he termed the “TEAAM” strategy—Technology, Equipment, Arms and Ammunition, and Motivation.
“We cannot keep watching our communities burn. Enough is enough,” he said.
Thursday’s tragedy follows another deadly attack just days earlier, when a Boko Haram landmine on the Damboa-Maiduguri highway killed eight passengers and injured over 17.
